Theresa Kane

At a meeting of the Leenane/ Maam Branch of the Irish Red Cross on Tuesday night April 13, a vote of sympathy was passed to unit member John M Kane and members of the Kane Family on the untimely death of their mother Theresa Kane, Rosroe, Renvyle, Co Galway.

Theresa was diagnosed with Pulmonary Sclerosis in October 2009. At first, it appeared that medicine and oxygen would arrest the disease, but tragically, doctors later confirmed that only a lung transplant could cure her. This did not defeat Teresa. All through her brief illness she kept fighting and held out great hope of receiving a transplant.

Theresa was an active member of the Leenane/Maam Branch of The Irish Red Cross since it was set up in 2005. Indeed Teresa held the position of chairperson for the first three years of the branch’s formation. She loved the responsibilities that were left to her. She had a vision, and worked hard to provide an ambulance and set up a unit in Leenane/Maam area. She was determined to see this project come to fruition while she was in the chair. She threw herself in to the role with her good humour and enthusiasm, and by 2007 the unit was set up and an ambulance was in place.

Theresa lived in Rosroe which was almost eight miles from Leenane village. She thought nothing of traveling those lonely roads alone on winter night to attend meetings and fundraising events.

Along with Theresa being an active volunteer, she was a loving mother and grandmother. The smile when she spoke of her seven children and five grandchildren showed that she had great pride in them all. Theresa enjoyed being with people. Everyone who knew her would agree it was her sense of humour and her ability to make people laugh that drew so many people to her.    

Theresa’s dedication and perseverance shone through in everything she did. Her commitment to her family and to her friends, as well as the volunteering she involved herself in, will be greatly missed.

Theresa’s love and devotion to her family and friends will always be dearly remembered. Her examples of love, caring and determination live on as inspiration to all of us. We will forever be greatfull for having great memories of time shared. Theresa will forever live in our hearts. She epitomised the words of Albert Einstein:

‘Our death is not an end if we can live on in our children and the younger generation. For they are us; our bodies are only wilted leaves on the tree of life’